By Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio

St. Louis – A weather pattern that is bringing arctic cold from Canada into St. Louis will likely remain in place for at least a week.

Highs in St. Louis are unlikely to reach much above 20 degrees this week, with Wednesday being the warmest day with a forecast high of 22.

The National Weather Service is also forecasting two to four inches of snow on Wednesday, says St. Louis meteorologist Thomas Spriggs.

"We could be looking at widespread subzero temperatures across the metropolitan area, and as a matter of fact, Lambert Airport in St. Louis hasn't gotten below zero in 11 years," Spriggs said.

The cold weather will also bring dangerous windchills.

"Usually what we used as a benchmark is around minus 15," Spriggs said. "If you are out with exposed skin in this type of air, in minus 15 or lower windchills, frostbite is likely within 30 minutes."

But the bitter cold is not uncommon in January, he said. The record lows for this month are all well below zero.

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